“It's not for you, it's for Snow White. When she breaks the tender peel, to taste the apple in her hand, her breath will still, her blood congeal, then I'll be fairest in the land” (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). The Witch/Sorceress archetype can be recognized in many different areas such as pop culture, literature, mythology, and some even featured in real life! This archetype has been commonly expressed in order to convey a seductive and atrocious character. The Witch/Sorceress is usually used to instill fear in both the protagonist and the reader. Usually by using magic or their beauty, a witch or evil sorceress may trap and annihilate the protagonist. Witches have been a symbol of corrupt females who take advantage of others to manifest their own desires; this concept has kept this archetype entertaining and enticing for years. Greek Mythology: Medea
World Mythology: Lady of the Lake (Viviane)
Viviane Seducing Merlin
The Lady of the Lake, a water deity, originated from Celtic legends. Using her beauty and love as a weapon, Viviane persuaded Merlin to teach her magic. Although Merlin begged Viviane for her love, she refused. Only if Merlin were to teach Viviane all of his secrets and magic would she love Merlin. Even though Merlin could see the future and predict that this would happen, Merlin's future could not be eluded. Viviane had already grown too powerful and Merlin's burning lust for her love engulfed his mind. Using her newly learned secrets and magic, Viviane imprisoned Merlin under a stone for eternity ([Online] Lady of the Lake).
She only offered her love to Merlin in order to become a powerful sorceress. By abusing her seductiveness and persuasive abilities, Viviane successfully fulfilled her wishes as a typical witch would do. Despite Viviane's evil acts in this story, her other actions contradict her portrayal as a witch. Although witches are cruel and harsh, she created an extremely powerful sword for Arthur as his weapon ([Online] Lady of the Lake).
Literature: The White Witch
Real Life: Queen Mary I
Queen Mary I
Desperate to keep her throne, Queen Mary I used every available possibility to obtain her wish of remaining queen. After the rebels' second attempt of forcing Queen Mary I out of her throne, the Queen decided she would no longer tolerate these uprisings. Thus, she executed every single suspect thought to be plotting against her. As a true witch, she used her powers to hurt others for her own benefit. Despite her horrible deeds, she continued on her massive killing streak. In her endeavor to reinstate the Catholic faith in England, she burned almost 300 Protestants to their death. These series of executions earned Queen Mary I the nickname "Bloody Mary," which is commonly known today as the ghost that appears in your mirror ([Online] Queen Mary I).
Her selfish personality enabled her to go to every extent to please herself. Unlike a witch, Queen Mary did have feelings. After two phantom pregnancies or possibly two miscarriages, Queen Mary I became depressed. In this respect, she was not as self-conceded and selfish as she later became. It may be due to her pregnancies that she became a witch in the first place. Her pregnancy events may have sparked or triggered the evil sorceress inside of her. She also contradicts the stereotype that witches live a life alone, owing to the fact that she had a husband ([Online] Queen Mary I).
Real Life: Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII was left for the Ptolamaic throne because of her father's death. Hungry for power, Cleopatra became a witch on the inside in order to satisfy her desire for vengeance. Her greed for power, vengeance, mercilessness, and pow
Coin Depicting Cleopatra VII
er of seductiveness portrayed her as an evil sorceress. At the age of 18, Cleopatra sat in the Ptolemaic throne with her brother, Ptolemy XIII, whom she married to gain access to the throne. However, Cleopatra gave into her selfish side and decided to rule alone. Poor judgments and thoughtless decisions were made by this merciless ruler. After realizing that Cleopatra ruled as a careless sovereign with lust for power, Ptolemy overthrew his wife with the aid of his outside friends, leaving Ptolemy as the sole ruler. After successfully being overthrown, Cleopatra fled into hiding and immediately began working on her plan of vengeance ([Online] Cleopatra).
A year later, Cleopatra’s scheme eventually came into play. Cleopatra knew that Julius Caesar and her brother, Ptolemy, were enemies. After Cleopatra seduced Caesar, she became his mistress. Although Caesar almost annexed Egypt, Cleopatra persuaded him to let her have the throne. When the war between Ptolemy XIII and Caesar ended with Ptolemy XIII's death, Caesar restored Cleopatra to the Egyptian throne. Cleopatra didn’t follow exactly the ways of the witch archetype. Unlike the archetype, Cleopatra had masculine features instead of beauty ([Online] Cleopatra).
Literature: The Witches of Macbeth Pop Culture: The Queen (Disney Version)
The Queen
The Queen’s biggest desire was to be the fairest in all the land, and she would stop at nothing to fulfill her wish. The seed of her evil began to sprout when she seduced the widowed king in order to live a glamorous life. However, she received news that the young and gorgeous Snow White defeated her in beauty. Driven with jealousy and rage, the Queen hired her best huntsman to kill Snow White and bring back her heart as proof. When the huntsman brought back a pigs heart instead, the Queen was fueled with rage. Her dark powers gradually returned to her while she plotted to exterminate Snow White herself. ([Online] The Evil Queen (Snow White)).
In the deceitful ways of a witch, the Queen set straight to work on her power of transformation into an old woman and the poisoning of a ripe red apple. She intended to trick Snow White into eating the poisonous apple. The Queen had only one task and that was to murder Snow White and regain her throne of beauty. Although her plan was not successful, the Queen showed multiple signs that proved that she was an evil sorceress, included her craving for power and supreme status ([Online] The Evil Queen (Snow White)).
Pop Culture: Maleficent
Maleficent
Maleficent, the evil mistress in the Disney Movie Sleeping Beauty, forces the royal family into a state of desolation for her happiness. Because she was not invited to the ceremony held for the newborn Princess Aurora, she placed a spell upon the princess in which she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before she turns sixteen. Her jealousy led her to inflict pain on others, as would be expected from a witch. Her magical powers are never used for good, but rather to torture people who have done nothing to deserve it.
Luckily, the three good fairies were able to altar the spell so she would simply be put to sleep and could only be awoken by true love’s kiss. After pricking her finger, Maleficent captures Prince Philip, Aurora’s true love, so she could not be awoken. She then exclaims, “For the first time in sixteen years, I shall sleep well.” She is brought joy from the pain and suffering of others and can only sleep well knowing someone is in pain.
Other (Pop Culture): Ursula (Disney Version)
Real Life: Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
In 1975, Imelda Marcos became the first lady of the Philippines, married to President Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos frequently spent her money by buying countless homes and thousands of pairs of shoes for herself during her time of power ([Online] Imelda Marcos).
Later, Imelda’s husband’s health began to deteriorate and Ferdinand held an election in order to step down. However, news of voting fraud in favor of Marcos broke out. The Filipino government exiled Marcos and her husband to Hawaii, where her husband later died. Imelda’s lust for the finer things in life and power formed her as a real life witch. She thought only about herself when it came to politics instead of also thinking of others. Although she does not have the enchanting powers and the beauty of a typical evil sorceress, Imelda Marcos had the intentions and the greed of a true witch ([Online] Imelda Marcos).
The Witch/Sorceress
Authors:
BenKelli
Ryan
Sarah
“It's not for you, it's for Snow White. When she breaks the tender peel, to taste the apple in her hand, her breath will still, her blood congeal, then I'll be fairest in the land” (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). The Witch/Sorceress archetype can be recognized in many different areas such as pop culture, literature, mythology, and some even featured in real life! This archetype has been commonly expressed in order to convey a seductive and atrocious character. The Witch/Sorceress is usually used to instill fear in both the protagonist and the reader. Usually by using magic or their beauty, a witch or evil sorceress may trap and annihilate the protagonist. Witches have been a symbol of corrupt females who take advantage of others to manifest their own desires; this concept has kept this archetype entertaining and enticing for years.Greek Mythology: Medea
World Mythology: Lady of the Lake (Viviane)
The Lady of the Lake, a water deity, originated from Celtic legends. Using her beauty and love as a weapon, Viviane persuaded Merlin to teach her magic. Although Merlin begged Viviane for her love, she refused. Only if Merlin were to teach Viviane all of his secrets and magic would she love Merlin. Even though Merlin could see the future and predict that this would happen, Merlin's future could not be eluded. Viviane had already grown too powerful and Merlin's burning lust for her love engulfed his mind. Using her newly learned secrets and magic, Viviane imprisoned Merlin under a stone for eternity ([Online] Lady of the Lake).
She only offered her love to Merlin in order to become a powerful sorceress. By abusing her seductiveness and persuasive abilities, Viviane successfully fulfilled her wishes as a typical witch would do. Despite Viviane's evil acts in this story, her other actions contradict her portrayal as a witch. Although witches are cruel and harsh, she created an extremely powerful sword for Arthur as his weapon ([Online] Lady of the Lake).
Literature: The White Witch
Real Life: Queen Mary I
Desperate to keep her throne, Queen Mary I used every available possibility to obtain her wish of remaining queen. After the rebels' second attempt of forcing Queen Mary I out of her throne, the Queen decided she would no longer tolerate these uprisings. Thus, she executed every single suspect thought to be plotting against her. As a true witch, she used her powers to hurt others for her own benefit. Despite her horrible deeds, she continued on her massive killing streak. In her endeavor to reinstate the Catholic faith in England, she burned almost 300 Protestants to their death. These series of executions earned Queen Mary I the nickname "Bloody Mary," which is commonly known today as the ghost that appears in your mirror ([Online] Queen Mary I).
Her selfish personality enabled her to go to every extent to please herself. Unlike a witch, Queen Mary did have feelings. After two phantom pregnancies or possibly two miscarriages, Queen Mary I became depressed. In this respect, she was not as self-conceded and selfish as she later became. It may be due to her pregnancies that she became a witch in the first place. Her pregnancy events may have sparked or triggered the evil sorceress inside of her. She also contradicts the stereotype that witches live a life alone, owing to the fact that she had a husband ([Online] Queen Mary I).
Real Life: Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII was left for the Ptolamaic throne because of her father's death. Hungry for power, Cleopatra became a witch on the inside in order to satisfy her desire for vengeance. Her greed for power, vengeance, mercilessness, and pow
A year later, Cleopatra’s scheme eventually came into play. Cleopatra knew that Julius Caesar and her brother, Ptolemy, were enemies. After Cleopatra seduced Caesar, she became his mistress. Although Caesar almost annexed Egypt, Cleopatra persuaded him to let her have the throne. When the war between Ptolemy XIII and Caesar ended with Ptolemy XIII's death, Caesar restored Cleopatra to the Egyptian throne. Cleopatra didn’t follow exactly the ways of the witch archetype. Unlike the archetype, Cleopatra had masculine features instead of beauty ([Online] Cleopatra).
Literature: The Witches of Macbeth
Pop Culture: The Queen (Disney Version)
The Queen’s biggest desire was to be the fairest in all the land, and she would stop at nothing to fulfill her wish. The seed of her evil began to sprout when she seduced the widowed king in order to live a glamorous life. However, she received news that the young and gorgeous Snow White defeated her in beauty. Driven with jealousy and rage, the Queen hired her best huntsman to kill Snow White and bring back her heart as proof. When the huntsman brought back a pigs heart instead, the Queen was fueled with rage. Her dark powers gradually returned to her while she plotted to exterminate Snow White herself. ([Online] The Evil Queen (Snow White)).
In the deceitful ways of a witch, the Queen set straight to work on her power of transformation into an old woman and the poisoning of a ripe red apple. She intended to trick Snow White into eating the poisonous apple. The Queen had only one task and that was to murder Snow White and regain her throne of beauty. Although her plan was not successful, the Queen showed multiple signs that proved that she was an evil sorceress, included her craving for power and supreme status ([Online] The Evil Queen (Snow White)).
Pop Culture: Maleficent
Maleficent, the evil mistress in the Disney Movie Sleeping Beauty, forces the royal family into a state of desolation for her happiness. Because she was not invited to the ceremony held for the newborn Princess Aurora, she placed a spell upon the princess in which she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before she turns sixteen. Her jealousy led her to inflict pain on others, as would be expected from a witch. Her magical powers are never used for good, but rather to torture people who have done nothing to deserve it.
Luckily, the three good fairies were able to altar the spell so she would simply be put to sleep and could only be awoken by true love’s kiss. After pricking her finger, Maleficent captures Prince Philip, Aurora’s true love, so she could not be awoken. She then exclaims, “For the first time in sixteen years, I shall sleep well.” She is brought joy from the pain and suffering of others and can only sleep well knowing someone is in pain.
Other (Pop Culture): Ursula (Disney Version)
Real Life: Imelda Marcos
In 1975, Imelda Marcos became the first lady of the Philippines, married to President Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos frequently spent her money by buying countless homes and thousands of pairs of shoes for herself during her time of power ([Online] Imelda Marcos).
Later, Imelda’s husband’s health began to deteriorate and Ferdinand held an election in order to step down. However, news of voting fraud in favor of Marcos broke out. The Filipino government exiled Marcos and her husband to Hawaii, where her husband later died. Imelda’s lust for the finer things in life and power formed her as a real life witch. She thought only about herself when it came to politics instead of also thinking of others. Although she does not have the enchanting powers and the beauty of a typical evil sorceress, Imelda Marcos had the intentions and the greed of a true witch ([Online] Imelda Marcos).
Google Doc Page
Sources
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Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. United Kingdom: Geoffery Bles, 1950. Print.
Lockwood. "The Simbul." Wizards. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2009. <http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/FR_ART/People/TheSimbul.jpg>.
"Maleficent." The Hoff. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2009. <http://thehoff.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/maleficent.jpg>.
"Queen Mary I." EnglishHistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2009.
<http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/mary1.html>.
Royalty.nu. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2009.<http://www.royalty.nu/Africa/Egypt/Cleopatra.html>.
"Viviane and Merlin in a Forest." 1st Art Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2009.<http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/thumbnail/172463/1/Viviane-And-Merlin-In-A-Forest.jpg>.